1. THE
PWSD
PROGRAMME

2. Common Alerting Protocol
(CAP)

3. CAP-101 Introducing CAP
Learning Objectives
On completion of this session, you should understand :
1. what CAP is
why CAP is needed
the expected benefits of CAP
the role of the WMO Register of Alerting Authorities
3. the WMO Alert Hub
Here are the Learning Objectives for this introductory session.
CAP-101 Introducing CAP

4. Presentation Outline 1 What is CAP 2 Benefits of CAP
CAP-101 Introducing CAP
Presentation Outline
1 What is CAP
2 Benefits of CAP
3 Features of a CAP Message
4 Alerting Authorities
WMO Alert Hub
Opportunities for implementing CAP
These are the major topics I will cover in this presentation.
The first topic is "Opportunity and Challenge".
CAP-101 Introducing CAP

5. CAP Introducing CAP
What is CAP?
The Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) is a standard message format
CAP was developed to address the challenge of alerting by standardizing the content of alerting messages.
CAP provides a format designed for any media, to communicate information about any kind of hazard situation.
And, the message can be targeted to: the public at large; certain designated groups such as civic authorities or responders; or to specific individuals as needed.
CAP Introducing CAP

6. The CAP Format Event Categories Urgency Severity Certainty
CAP Introducing CAP
The CAP Format
Event Categories
Urgency
Severity
Certainty
Recall that CAP has a variety of “coded values”. These include:
Event Categories (Geo, Met, Safety, Security, Rescue, Fire, Health, Env, Transport, Infra, Other)
Urgency: Timeframe for responsive action
Severity: Level of threat to life or property
Certainty: Probability of occurrence
CAP Introducing CAP

7. CAP Introducing CAP
The CAP Format
Event Categories (Meteorological, Fire, Health, Transport, etc)
Urgency: (Immediate, Expected, Future, Past, Unknown)
Severity: (Extreme, Severe, Moderate, Minor, Unknown)
Certainty: (Very Likely, Likely, Possible, Unlikely, Unknown)
Recall that CAP has a variety of “coded values”. These include:
Event Categories (Geo, Met, Safety, Security, Rescue, Fire, Health, Env, Transport, Infra, Other)
Urgency: Timeframe for responsive action
Severity: Level of threat to life or property
Certainty: Probability of occurrence
CAP Introducing CAP

8. The Common Alerting Protocol (CAP)
An XML-based data format

9. All-Hazards, All-Media
CAP Introducing CAP
All-Hazards, All-Media
CAP
CAP can supplement or replace single-purpose interfaces between alert sources and dissemination media. So, CAP can be viewed as a kind of "universal adaptor" for alert messages.
I like to think of CAP as a standard form, carried on a clipboard. People involved in all kinds of hazard situations all have this same form. Standardized information in the items on that CAP form can be communicated to all who need it--across all kinds of systems and media.
CAP Introducing CAP

10. Some Basics About CAP
To make a CAP alert easier for a human to read, a “Stylesheet” transforms the XML document into HTML.
CAP Introducing CAP

11. Structure of a CAP Message
Introduction to Common Alerting Protocol
Structure of a CAP Message
Text for humans to read
Coded values for machines useful for filtering, routing, and automated translation to human languages
This is a critically important feature of CAP messages.
CAP Messages contain various text values for human readers, such as "area description", "headline", and "instruction".
But, CAP messages also contain coded values that are necessary for filtering, routing, and display of messages.
Coded values are also very useful for automated translation to human languages.
Use of CAP in Disseminating Warnings

12. Example: Text for human to read
CAP Introducing CAP
Example: Text for human to read
Alert with Stylesheet
To make a CAP alert easier for a human visitor to read, a “Stylesheet” transforms the XML document into HTML. Yet, the XML representation is still there so it can used by other processes, such as alert aggregators, text-to-speech processors, and so on.
CAP Introducing CAP

13. Example: Coded values for machines
CAP Introducing CAP
Example: Coded values for machines
Example CAP Message
First we’ll look at Learning Some Basics About CAP
The most fundamental technical feature of CAP is that it defines its standard message format using eXtensible Markup Language (XML).
CAP Introducing CAP

14. WMO Register of Alerting Authorities
Purpose: To provide an authoritative register of organizations authorized to issue alerts in each country
PRs nominate editors to maintain respective country register pages

15. The Register page for the Meteorological Service of New Zealand
Example
The Register page for the Meteorological Service of New Zealand

16. The W MO Alert Hub
WMO planning on developing an alert hub for all alerts from Members
Hub planned to provide one-stop platform for alerts provided by authorized agencies/institutions
Courtesy: Eliot Christian

17. (Link to more information)
Implementation of CAP
WMO through PWSD programme assists Members through the «CAP Jump-start» arrangement
Experts visit NMHSs and provide training and freeware
LDCs and developing countries are supported
There is a need for resources for advancing implementation of CAP
WMO CAP Jump-start
(Link to more information)

18. WMO Organized 16 CAP-Jump Start workshops by PWSD Programme
CAP Jump-Start Workshop, Vacoas, Mauritius, 31 August – 4 September 2015
WMO Organized 16 CAP-Jump Start workshops by PWSD Programme

19. Presentation Outline 1 What is CAP 2 Benefits of CAP
CAP-101 Introducing CAP
Presentation Outline
1 What is CAP
2 Benefits of CAP
3 Features of a CAP Message
4 Alerting Authorities
WMO Alert Hub
Opportunities for implementing CAP
These are the major topics I will cover in this presentation.
The first topic is "Opportunity and Challenge".
CAP-101 Introducing CAP

20. Thank you
Merci